The svelt, 6-foot-2, 273-pound Martin has started 31 of 37 games in his career; Reyes (6-4, 295), a captain and All-Big East performer who considered leaving for the NFL after last season, has started 29 of 37. Joseph (6-3, 262) has started in all 25 games he has played. Williams (6-1, 231) is the least experienced with eight starts — but he's played in 26 games and has 6 1/2 sacks.

"We have some experience there," defensive line coach Hank Hughes said. "You can't replace experience and that's one thing some these guys bring to the game. They're a little bit older, bigger, stronger. We do have some experience. I think we have a chance to be a good unit."

While the defensive line may not think it has to come to the rescue of any other unit, if these four do the big things they're capable of, that could very well happen.

Martin, Reyes, Joseph and Williams appear to be in real good shape and well-conditioned. They've been getting to the quarterback quite a bit in practice and limiting long runs from scrimmage.

The front four was one of the bright spots in spring practice and continues to be in preseason camp.

"If we come in every day with the mind-set of taking everything coach [Paul] Pasqualoni has told us about molding our skills, becoming an expert at our craft and just making a huge impact and changing the game based on our skills, we'll see what happens but we're hoping to accomplish that," Joseph said.

"Kendall is bringing more power, he's more functional," Hughes said. "He has a great handle and Coach [Pasqualoni] brought some things having coached that position with the Cowboys in the NFL and it's helped those guys out. He's brought some different things we haven't done in the past. Twyon, to me, looks quicker off the mark than he ever has and he's always had quickness. Those guys are applying themselves.

"Jesse has been solid. Trevardo got his feet wet as a freshman, has played a bunch and started last year. Now, Jesse, I'd say, would be the bell cow at the position and Trevardo to me is a guy that's improving, but we have to work on his technique. He's one of the strongest, fastest guys on the team so he's got a lot of physical tools. We just have to keep working on some fundamentals."

Reyes has called Stephen the biggest man he's ever seen and said Stephen will be a player many remember before his career is over.

"They're both improved players, very good, right now," Hughes said. At one defensive end, senior Marcus Campbell, who missed all of last season with a knee injury is battling. Hughes said junior Teddy Jennings is playing well and freshman Kenton Adeyemi and redshirt freshmen B.J. McBryde and Jonathan Louis are competing hard.

As far as the starters, Martin's body looks really good. He seems a lot quicker.

"Coach Pasqualoni always says be better conditioned, tough and smart," Martin said. "Being better conditioned I mean, you have to be able to run to the ball on defense. A lot of people don't make the best plays just from great technique. A lot of plays are made just running to the ball."

Williams was light when he arrived at UConn and he's still light at 231 pounds but he said he's put on about 35 pounds since he arrived and he's chiseled. The former state champion sprinter in Florida uses his speed to make plays and he's a pretty sure tackler.

"I've gotten stronger, lower body, upper body," Williams said. "It's helped me be more sturdy on run plays and facing linemen twice as big as me. I'm able to stop them in their place and move them. I feel pretty good about that."

Joseph was a starter as a freshman.

His goal now?

"Just like the rest — make an impact," Joseph said.

Moore, Manning Sit Out

Linebacker Sio Moore and tight end Corey Manning were at practice, but in jerseys and shorts and no pads, apparently out with undisclosed injuries Pasqualoni wasn't willing to discuss.

"These meetings, when you guys are in here, are not going to be a dissertation on injuries," said Pasqualoni, who turned 62 Tuesday. "I'm not going to talk about injuries. No can do. OK, so if we had an injury that was a real serious injury and somebody was out for the season I'd tell you guys that. Other than that I'm not getting into the particulars of what the injuries are. We don't have anybody that's out for the season so...we're fine." Before that, Pasqualoni said Moore would be back in a "day or so." He didn't say anything about Manning.